The Army of Freedom: 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
At the beginning of the war, black soldiers were not involved in the war for 2 reasons:
1. It was a popular belief that African Americans did not know how to fight.
2. Lincoln was unwilling to turn the slave owners of the Border States against him.
Because the war effort demanded more soldiers than Lincoln expected, he implemented the Second Confiscation and Militia Act (1862), allowing African Americans to form their own regiments. Half a year later, Governor John A. Andrew of Massachusetts issued a call to arms. Freed slaves from all around the country flocked to Massachusetts, and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was formed. The members of this regiment reached the peak of their fame when they bravely led the Union assault on Fort Wagner. The assault on forces with superior numbers, positions, and weapons led to the deaths of 600 men from the 54th and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, leader of the 54th regiment; however, they were able to show Lincoln, the South, and all their doubters that they would fight to the death for liberty. At the end of the war, 10% of the Union army was made up of black soldiers. They eventually came to receive equal pay, and twenty-five courageous African Americans received Medals of Honor.
Though the admittance and subsequent dedication of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment substantially raised the standings of African Americans the perspectives of whites, enough racial prejudice remained for white soldiers to continue holding a sense of superiority over their black counterparts.
1. It was a popular belief that African Americans did not know how to fight.
2. Lincoln was unwilling to turn the slave owners of the Border States against him.
Because the war effort demanded more soldiers than Lincoln expected, he implemented the Second Confiscation and Militia Act (1862), allowing African Americans to form their own regiments. Half a year later, Governor John A. Andrew of Massachusetts issued a call to arms. Freed slaves from all around the country flocked to Massachusetts, and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was formed. The members of this regiment reached the peak of their fame when they bravely led the Union assault on Fort Wagner. The assault on forces with superior numbers, positions, and weapons led to the deaths of 600 men from the 54th and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, leader of the 54th regiment; however, they were able to show Lincoln, the South, and all their doubters that they would fight to the death for liberty. At the end of the war, 10% of the Union army was made up of black soldiers. They eventually came to receive equal pay, and twenty-five courageous African Americans received Medals of Honor.
Though the admittance and subsequent dedication of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment substantially raised the standings of African Americans the perspectives of whites, enough racial prejudice remained for white soldiers to continue holding a sense of superiority over their black counterparts.
Citations:
"African-American Soldiers in the Civil War." The History Channel website. A&E Television Networks, LLC,. Web. 3 December 2013. <http://www.history.com/topic /african-american-soldiers-in-the-civil-war>.
Du Bois, W. E. B. Sgt. William Carney. 1900. Library of Congress Prints and Photograps Division Washington, D.C. Wikipedia. Web. 3 December 2013.
“Fighting for Equal Rights: Black Soldiers in the Civil War.” National Archives. National Archives, 25 October 2010. Web. 3 December 2013.
Kurz and Allison. The Storming of Ft Wagner. 1890. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. Wikipedia. Web. 3 December 2013.
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus. 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. 1897. Boston Common, Boston, Massachusetts. Gettysburg Daily. Web. 3 December 2013.
“The Civil War’s Black Soldiers.” History E-Library. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 3 July 2011. Web. 3 December 2013.
"African-American Soldiers in the Civil War." The History Channel website. A&E Television Networks, LLC,. Web. 3 December 2013. <http://www.history.com/topic /african-american-soldiers-in-the-civil-war>.
Du Bois, W. E. B. Sgt. William Carney. 1900. Library of Congress Prints and Photograps Division Washington, D.C. Wikipedia. Web. 3 December 2013.
“Fighting for Equal Rights: Black Soldiers in the Civil War.” National Archives. National Archives, 25 October 2010. Web. 3 December 2013.
Kurz and Allison. The Storming of Ft Wagner. 1890. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. Wikipedia. Web. 3 December 2013.
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus. 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. 1897. Boston Common, Boston, Massachusetts. Gettysburg Daily. Web. 3 December 2013.
“The Civil War’s Black Soldiers.” History E-Library. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 3 July 2011. Web. 3 December 2013.